Monday, 31 August 2009

Liverpool Physio has England role blocked by United

Manchester United have "blocked the proposed promotion of a Liverpool physiotherapist to work with the England team in a move that demonstrates the distrust that exists between the country’s top clubs," reports the Times.

Reds football physiotherapist Dave Galley, who has more than 25 years’ experience had expected to be part of the England medical staff for the friendly against Slovenia on September 5 and the World Cup qualifier with Croatia four days later.

However Galley has now reverted back to his previous role with the England Under-21 squad after what the Times says "the intervention of David Gill, the Manchester United chief executive," and "Liverpool are understood to be far from impressed with the situation."

A policy designed to ensure that only independent medical staff are appointed to work with the national team introduced by the FA last year, had "raised concerns about a rival club’s physiotherapist having access to valuable information about the fitness of players from other team’s."

Strangely United don't appear bothered by the current physiotherapist Gary Lewin appointed in August last year, and full time doctor Ian Beasley. "Both had previously worked for the FA on a part-time basis with their regular employment being provided by Arsenal," says the report.

Now Galley has returned to his role with the under 21 squad after Gill questioned "the wisdom of the appointment of Galley to work with Fabio Capello’s squad and the FA backed his opinion."

The FA say: “Dave has reverted back to the Under-21s after one game.” said an FA spokesman. “There should be no questions against his professionalism, We must be clear that there is an agreed board policy that has nothing to do with Manchester United that the medical staff should be independent.

“Franco Baldini (Capello’s general manager) and Rafael Benítez (the Liverpool manager) discussed the matter yesterday and it was explained we wanted to see Dave working with the team in the friendly this month. We refute any suggestion that we have been pressurised by Manchester United.”